First message
Richard had found her.
She had always been too busy to meet. Two years together, and for the first time in his life, love felt this sincere and this strong.
He was ready.
His car stopped outside her building, but Richard stayed inside for another minute, gathering his thoughts.
His woman was in there. Mature, thirty-two, independent, strong, bold and demanding. She had her own business. She had captured his attention in a way no one had managed in twenty years.
She heard the car pull up outside and looked out the window. Her heart stopped with it.
Richard.
Her Richard.
For two years, she had added twelve years to her age. For two years, she had edited every photo to look older, more elegant, more established.
For two years, she posed as a person that has the right to love an adult man.
He thought he was in love with a woman.
She was a twenty-year-old college student.
And now he was here.
She opened the door and stepped outside, gripping the frame for support.
Richard got out of the car.
A girl.
Her daughter? Was she older than she'd told him?
“Good afternoon. Richard Bradford,” he said calmly, giving her a brief glance. “Could you please get your mother?”
His hand adjusted his watch.
A nervous habit.